Alonzo d



ALONZO D. PERRY, OF'NEW YORK, N. Y.

Fl-LS'JIENING` MAIL-BAGS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 5,596, dated May 23, 1848.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ALONZO D. PERRY, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Strap for Fastening the Mouths of Mail-Bags and for other Purposes; and I do hereby declare the following yto be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure I is a view of the top of the strap and plates, Fig. II is a side view of the same. Fig. III is a view of a mail bag with lock and strap attached. Fig. IV, is an edge view of the strap showing a method of locking the plates together. Fig. V, is a top view of the same. Fig. VI, is a view of the bolt (h).

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a metallic strap, for securing the mouths or flaps of sacks or bags, having reference more especially to mail bags.

Iy strap is formed of a number of oblong metal plates (a a; a a, &c.) riveted upon a strip of leather, these plates have each a slit (f) cut longitudinally through their centers, said slits terminating near one end in a round hole, the slits and holes are continued in like manner through t-he leather strap upon which the plates are fastened, as seen in the figures.

In Fig. IV, and Fig. V, are views of plates formed a little different from those in Figs. I and II. .The plates in this latter strap are long enough to lap each other at their ends, and lock together, at one end of t-he plate is cut so as to form a tongue, and the match plate is forked at (y y) these being bent up a little, enables them to interlock, within each other. This interlocking of the plates prevents the straps bending from a right line on its face side, but is flexible when bent from its underside. The leather part of the strap may be dispensed with, the plates in that case being but-ted and hinged together at their ends. The strap is secured to the iiap, or mouth piece of the bag by means of bolts shaped like the letter T. The lower part of these bolts are fastened to the ap (m) as seen in the edge view Fig. 2, by riveting their ends on the underside while the cross piece (b) is passed up through the slit, and bears upon or outside of the plates (a), on each side of t-he slit as seen at (b b b). Thus it will be seen that while the strap is held firmly to the surface of the flap, so that it cannot be removed from it, it has yet a sliding motion along the slots to the right and left. The bolts (b) may have round heads instead of those with a T shaped top.

On the top of the bag in front, and immediately in line with the center of the strap when the flap is closed, are secured a series of round headed bolt-s or pins (c c c, &c.) These pass through the round holes in the plates (a a) on the top. It will be seen then that by drawing the strap along, the heads of the pins are caught on the outside of the plates while the shank slides in the slits and thereby, prevents the lifting up of the Hap, and consequently keeps it firmly secured over the mouth of the bag.

At that end of the bag immediately beneath the lock (when the flap is closed) a rivet is fastened, which comes through and enters the lock, the top of this rivet terminates in a round head as seen in Fig. (VI), and the lock has on its underside a round opening fitted to receive it. The locking isv effected by pushing the knob (d) toward the round end of the lock, which movement causes the bolt on the inside to advance and catch the pin or rivet before mentioned immediately under its round head by means of a fork in the end of the bolt. This prevents the pin from being withdrawn from the lock, and also the strap from sliding so as to disengage t-he round headed pins (c c o &c.) all which must be done before the bag can be opened.

The strap is represented as terminating in a lock at (g) but instead of that mode a staple may be riveted to the body of the bag in place of the pin which is adapted to combine with the lock, the staple if one is fitted instead will pass through an opening in the last link or plate of the strap, and be there fastened by a padlock or otherwise.

As an additional security to guard against any danger from bending up the mouth of the pouch where the strap is attached so as to unhitch the plates from the bolts, I cover the strap with the same material as the pouch is made of or any other suitable material. This I show in the drawing by red lines the strap being represented underneath as if the cover was transparent; by this means all danger of opening the pouch by bending is obviated.

What IV claim as my invention and i1nby means of such strap be readily secured to provernent and desire toI secure by Letters the body of the same in the manner herein 10 Patlnt, is-kg f b1 1 described and set forth.

T e com ination o a exi e siding rne-v 1" n 5 tallic strap (constructed in the manner v A' D PERRY' herein described) With the flap ormouth Witnesses: piece of the bag in such a Way that when the J. P. PIRssoN, flap is shut over the mouth of the bag it may T. G. FRENCH. 

